Tire changing?

[kx_rider53]

Well, yesterday i tried to change the rear tire on my 125 (100/90-90). It was a Maxxis IT. I had changed the tires on my brothers XR 100 a couple months ago. They were fairly easy and did not take much more than 2 hours. They were of moderate difficulty but no where near impossible. Any way, i figured i could do this one. I figured that it would be harder, because it was wider and stiffer, but it was extremely hard. I have three tire irons (spoon with handle (10 inch)) and a bead buddy. I let the air out, lossened the nut on the valve, and lossened the rim lock. I got about 2-3 inches of the tire about the rim. I then tried to pull more of the tire above the rim, but to no avail. The rest of the tire was very tight and i could not get the tire iron to get a good grasp on the bead of the tire. How would you get around this? I have watched the videos on Transworld, and have read many guides. I just dont understand what i am doing wrong. Thanks guys

[crfjedi393]

Heat is your friend. Let the tire set in the sun for a bit. Patience is the other key. Sometimes you can only work about a millimeter at a time around the rim. Tire changing just sucks.

[TheRooster]

Getting the first half of the tire on is the easy part. You can practically just work half of the tire onto the rim, without using tire irons. Then, you have to come from the back-side (under the tire), and use the inside ledge to get that first side on first. Once you get that, put the tube in there, and get the other half of the tire on there.

Having somebody help you will be the easiest way, but you do not, by all means, need somebody to help you.

It's hard to explain over the internet, but as crfjedi said, if you use heat, that will make it easier. You just gotta play with it, practically.

[Woody_393]

The other thing that I believe to make the job easier is a tire changing stand. But they still suck.

The vids on TWMX make it look easy, and he does have excellent tips, but I've never had one go on easy or come off easy.

[642MX]

I've never seen a Maxxis go on or come off easy. They must have the stiffest carcass of any tire I've seen. I use Pirelli tires and they are fairly easy to mount, but Dunlops by far, are the easiest to work with. Its amazing what difference the brand makes, I guess they are all built differently.

[Thumprding]

A Maxxis IT is hard to get both on and off. Start by breaking the bead all the way around the tire. After that is done spary the bead with soapy water. Starting at the rim lock place a tire iron on either side of the rim lock under the bead. Make sure that the bead oposite of the rim lock is down in the center of the rim. Now pull both levers at the same time and pull the bead out. Pull one iron out and move down a couple three inches. This is where a third iron may be helpful. Stick the iron between the tire and the rim and get a bite on anything you can and pull back. If you did not get the bead shove the third iron in while pulling back on the other one. Once the third iron has the bead remove the second one and lever the bead over the rim.

The first couple of levers after the iniital part is the hardest. Good luck

[four26stroker]

MAXXIS tires are MAN makers!! I have to agree...lol...They wear like iron and the side walls are crazy stiff. I like dish soap and baby powder with 3 irons to work the bead. I've changed my share of tires and some times its a struggle. Little bites, sprocket side down, careful with the tube

[MotoMan]

I hate changing tires, I just hate it.

Randy showed me a neat trick no too long ago, go to your local tractor supply place and get yourself a set of tractor tire spoons, these things make it WAY easier on you then anything I have ever used.

[char393]

I've seriously considered investing in one these:

[MotoMan]

Oooooo.....I likey....I likey alot.

[char393]

I really have a hard time changing tires... Daniel though, he's pretty good at it. When I had my kdx he changed the tires for me, I timed him. He had the front and rear done in a half hour.

[Dirtbikindad393]

kx-rider53

Here is my take after watching my sponsor Lipert Racing and who is also our Maxxis tire dealer in the desert and doing it myself (when I have to). If you follow this method with or without a tire stand it will work. A few weeks ago my friend Robert Wright and I were in the pits and he changed a tire (Maxxis in 7 minutes) and the racer was back out on the course to finish the 100's National Hare & Hound with a full tank of gas and fresh goggles.

First off soak the tire in the sun for as long as possible! Can't stress that enough like the others said heat is your friend. Have a nice size bottle of baby powder available, your tire irons and a large socket (not deep).

I lay down a furniture blanket on my garage floor so as not to gibble up the rotor or sprocket. Obviously you need the rim off the bike so I won't bore you with that. Air down your tube by taking out the valve core. Loosen the rim lock all the way without taking off the nut. Break the bead on the tire by stepping on it, flip it over and repeat. Before you stick a tire iron in make sure the bead is broken and get the tire into the inside or smallest part of the rim (where the spoke nipples are). Now get two tire irons in and flip the first one holding the second in place to get the first half of the tire coming off the rim. Keep useing the same tire iron to move around the tire removing it from the rim. Always make sure the other half of the outside bead of the tire is in the inside or smallest part of the rim. Once you have the first half of the tire off the rim you may either remove the tube (which most people do) or take the tire with the tube in it completely off the rim (the route I choose, it saves a step and time). Again make sure the half of the tire you are not working on is in the smallest part of the rim.

OK you have done it the old tire is off now to install the new tire.
Inspect the rim and add duct tape over the spoke nipples if needed. Remove the rim lock to add tape. Make sure to cut a hole in the tape to allow for the rim lock and valve stem. Now take the new tire and very librally put some baby powder around the first bead of the tire to go on the rim, making sure you get plenty inside the tire and spin it around so it coats the inside of the tire. This will help with pinching the tube and allow it to expand without catching on the inside of the tire. If you have ever tried to rub rubber against rubber it doesn't work well without a lubricant. Now take the tire and lay it on the rim at the rim lock, allow the edge of the tire to be inside the rim lock (push the rim lock as far into the tire as possible and start there with the tire irons. Tha baby powder will allow the bead of the tire to slip over the rim easier than with nothing at all. Once you have half the tire on the rim guide it to the smallest part of the rim to allow the other half as much room as possible as you use the tire irons to work the tire on the rim.

You should have the first half the tire on, Now take a tire iron and wedge it into the bead on the bottom side or outside of the tire bead that is on the rim, at the valve stem hole. Lock the tire iron behind the sprcket so it stays without you holding it. Flip the rim over so you can install the tube. Install the valve stem part of the tube into the tire but not in the hole yet. Take the large socket and wedge it inbetween the rim and tire after the valve stem is in the tire. With tire iron on the bottom and the socket on the top this creates a spot for you to get your hands in and steer the valve stem right into the hole without too much trouble. Install the rest of the tube into the tire and remove the tire iron and socket. Remember to have a little air in the tube if it is a new tube, it will help keep you from pinching it with the tire irons.

Use the tire irons to install the last side of the tire on the rim. Make sure you have powder on the bead of the tire. Do it in the sun if possible to help keep the tire warm. Work your tire on starting at the rim lock. Make sure the opposite side of the tire is in the smallest part of the rim. Use the largest tire iorn you have to work around the tire. The last 6 inches are the hardest but if you keep the tire in the smallest part of the rim you will perservere. Inflate (without the valve core) the tire until the bead is set on the rim then install the valve core and inflate to desired air pressure. If a part of the tire bead won't "pop" into place remove the air hose and sprinkle more powder into that area and repeat beading the tire.

Long post but I hope it helps you and others make one of the worst jobs of the home mechanic a little easier. Even with Maxxis which is all I run on my bikes.

DBD

[ossagp1]

I like to push the rim lock or locks all the way in on the back tires,,,ie without the nut. Warm sun is nice when you can get it. If you are changing a studded ice tire at the track, you won't find it (warm sun). A trick I learned while changing studded tires which had liners (liners are made from a radial automobile tire and are usually doubled to run the 2 inch or longer studs that are now popular) is to use C-clamps to hold the beads together (handy to break beads with too) as you follow DBingDad's suggestion to keep the bead into the deepest recess in the rim. They start off and on easier that way.

On the stand: You can make a really good one from the narrow barrels that lubricants come in. A 5 gallon bucket filled with sand is really about as good. The automotive type irons are way cheaper than the Terry Davis types,,but look really close at the, they do tend to pinch a tube easier. My favorite is still an old piece of a leaf spring that has been serving me and someone before me for over 45 years.

[longwoodklon]

I hate changing tires. And thought I've been doing it wrong all these years when I read a recent issue of dirtbike?(I think it was dirtbike anyways) They showed the removal process where you remove each bead/tire side from it's respective side of the rim. So, eventually you have the rim INSIDE the tire, then you simply pull the rim out. That's always the hardest part for me, getting the second side of the tire off. You guys are removing both sides of the tire from the same side of the rim? /Mike

[kx_rider53]

Well, i actually did get if off and the new one on last week. Thanks for your help. It happened that the bead was not broken enough on each side which made it quite difficult. I got it eventually though, and everything is hunky-dory now. Thanks guys.

[Silver_Fox]

Originally Posted by longwoodklon

That's always the hardest part for me, getting the second side of the tire off. You guys are removing both sides of the tire from the same side of the rim? /Mike

Unless you have a 2 piece tire, how else would you remove the tire from the rim?

[longwoodklon]

Originally Posted by Silver_Fox

Unless you have a 2 piece tire, how else would you remove the tire from the rim?

What I'm saying is the article showed that he removed one side of the tire, flipped the rim over and removed the other side. Then, you are stuck with the rim INSIDE the tire you are trying to remove. It stated that then it's easy to remove the rim from the tire by hand. /Mike

[LoKi]

I just pay $5, and have the bike shop do it. They're fast, and even check my spokes while they're at it.

[Woody_393]

If you guys haven't seen this you need to watch all three video's.

It's very good, and very informational.

TWMX - How to change a tire

[Dirtbikindad393]

Originally Posted by longwoodklon

What I'm saying is the article showed that he removed one side of the tire, flipped the rim over and removed the other side. Then, you are stuck with the rim INSIDE the tire you are trying to remove. It stated that then it's easy to remove the rim from the tire by hand. /Mike

Watch part one of the video on the link Woody provided it will show you exactly how to do what you are talking about. You are correct about taking each side off of the rim so its in the middle. Silver Fox should watch the video too so he will understand what you are talking about.